Norway is a country ofmany spectacularlandscapes. From thegentle rolling green hills surrounding Oslo,to the harsh snowy tundra of the Arctic andthe towering mountains, cut by deep darkfjords, it is a land of breathtaking contrastsand beauty. Even amongst such naturalsplendour, however, one region stands out.The Lofoten Islands lie deep within theArctic Circle and offer a wild beauty thatcan best be described as humbling; theirmajestic mountains rising vertically out ofan inky-blue sea, leaving room for only athreadlike shore. This is the 'Land of theMidnight Sun', a place of dramaticlandscapes, idyllic summers and abundantwildlife; a source of inspiration for manyand the soul of northern Norway. Jutting out from the mainland, the Lofotenarchipelago extends westwards far out intothe Atlantic Ocean and it is this uniquelocation that attracts such a wealth ofwildlife. The open sea, the influence of theGulf Stream and the proximity of thecontinental shelf offer a rare opportunity toexperience the atmosphere and theexcitement of an Arctic whale-watch with adifference. We hope to witness the naturalphenomenon of Sperm Whales gatheringon the edge on the continental shelf, wherethe warmer Atlantic currents and coldArctic waters merge to create rich feedinggrounds for some of the largest creatureson the planet. On land we will explore thespectacular birdlife in one of the world'smost beautiful and pristine archipelagos -travelling on the quiet roads that snakearound beautiful fjords and through somedramatic countryside, where breathtakingviews present themselves at every corner.Our 6-day holiday begins with a flight fromLondon, via Oslo, beyond the Arctic Circleto Evenes, from where we continue ourjourney by minibus. The scenery is awe-inspiring: craggy mountains whose jaggedteeth seemingly bite the skyline and trap astring of tiny fishing villages tight againstthe shore. The main highway weaves ascenic route as it hops from island to islandvia sweeping bridges and causeways andoccasionally through tunnels beneath thesea. Our time exploring this spectacularregion will be split between three nights onthe island of Andøya, on the northernVesterlån Islands, and two nights atMoskenes on the southern tip of theLofoten archipelago. On one day we will travel north to thepicturesque fishing village of Andenes for aday's whale-watching, the undoubtedhighlight of the tour. On our way out to thewhales' feeding grounds we will visitseabird and seal colonies and keep asharp eye open for the majestic White-tailed Eagles which are frequently seenhere. By spending a whole morning (3-5hours) out at sea we hope to optimise ourchances of seeing several different speciesof cetacean. Although Sperm Whale, thelargest of the toothed whales, is the mostfrequently observed species, we shouldalso look out for Minke, Humpback andLong-finned Pilot Whales, White-beakedDolphins, and perhaps the distinctive talldorsal fins of a patrolling pod of Orcas.While Andøya is strictly not part of theLofotens it is one of the most productiveregions for birds, having a diverse avifaunarepresentative of a wide range of habitatsthat includes mountains, moorlands, bogs,lakes and woodlands. Species we may expect to see include Willow Ptarmigan,Rough-legged Buzzard, Merlin, Whimbrel,Ruff, Red-necked Phalarope, Redpoll,Brambling and Snow Bunting. No visit to the Lofoten Islands would becomplete without the experience of seeingMoskenes. This spectacular region hasbeen sculpted over the millennia byglaciers and other elemental forces,creating one of the wildest and mostfascinating places in Norway. The area ischaracterised by sheer-faced mountainsand some of the oldest rocks in Europe,approximately 3 billion years old. Here,rising to an altitude of 1,029 metres, MountHermannsdalstind dominates the westernLofotens and is one of the highestmountains in the archipelago. We will alsoembrace the rich cultural heritage of theLofotens and during our time in the southof the islands we will observe theprocessing of the region's most importantexport, 'Stockfish' (air-dried cod). Naturally,we will also be making frequent stops forbirdwatching en route, including a visit tothe wetlands at Leknes.The magnificent scenery, wealth of birdand marine-life together with fresh Arcticair will surely combine into a unique andunforgettable experience, but the greatestexperience of all is, perhaps, just beingamongst the Lofoten Islands themselves.While nothing in nature is guaranteed, onething is certain on this tour: enduringmemories of awe-inspiring landscapesquite unlike any other in Europe!NORWAYLOFOTENISLANDSVESTERLÅNISLANDSSWEDENSORTLANDEVENESANDØYALEKNESMOSKENESANDENES100Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryOutline itineraryDay 1Fly Evenes; transferAndøya.Day 2/3Wildlife exploration fromAndøya.Day 4/5Wildlife exploration fromMoskenes. Day 6Fly London.AccommodationComfortable guesthouse on Andøyawith private facilities. On the island ofMoskenes our group will be splitamongst a series of attractive cabinswith wonderful mountain views. Eachcabin has two bedrooms sharing onebathroom. FoodAll included in the price.GradingA. Easy to moderate day walks. FocusWhales, seabirds and mountainscenery. LeaderMalcolm Stott.Single room supplement£295.Web quick search: NOR07Whales & Seabirds ofNorway's Lofoten IslandsA 6-day holiday to the land of the midnight sun, focusing on the whales, seabirds and landscapes of Norway's spectacular Lofoten Islands.Sunday 24th June - Friday 29th June Cost: £2,195The Lofoten IslandsPuffinSperm Whale

It is Norway's majestic coastal fjords thatso epitomise the country's scenicsplendour; yet, inland, lie some of themost attractive and varied landscapes inScandinavia. Indeed, since agricultural useaffects a meagre 4% of the country,Norway's interior has a great deal to offerthe naturalist; its wild, wide-open spacesharbouring a great variety of interestingArctic-alpine plants and animals. By way offurther attraction, the country's highstandard of living ensures excellentfacilities. Thus, at the end of each day outin the wilderness we may enjoy a retreat toour base in Kamben for the week, a friendlyand comfortable family-run hotel servingplenty of good traditional Norwegian food.Kamben, just four hours by road from Oslo,is ideally situated for botanical exploration,lying just below the tree-line at 790 metres,and just 15 kilometres north of theattractive and convenient town of Gol, insouthern Norway's Buskerud province.Spring, though, comes late to this highplateau of Golsfjellet and its surroundingpeaks; there being a quick and intenseblossoming of plants during the long daysof mid-July. Then, abundant flowers attractnumerous colourful butterflies and otherinsects, whilst breeding birds are highlyactive in their efforts to raise young duringso short a season.Our aim during this week-long holidaywill be to explore and enjoy the regionby means of day walks from our hotel.From it, we are able to employ a widerange of well-marked footpaths thatgive us access to the uninhabited andpeaceful places where flowers and otherwildlife abound. We will range over openmoorlands and around tranquil lakes,wander amongst coniferous and birchwoodlands, and ascend alongside icyrivers towards the higher peaks and theirrewarding Arctic-alpine meadows. In thesemagnificent wilderness regions we have thefreedom to roam at will in our search forthe area's natural history. It is a placewhere lichens abound, advertising theclean air. Some of the interesting floweringplants that we will find do, of course, alsooccur in northern Britain. There, though,they are rare and difficult to find; here, onthe Gol Plateau, they are abundant andgrow amongst so many others which arefound only at these more northerlylatitudes. Saxifrages, in particular, are wellrepresented whilst, in the more openhabitats, a wide range of willows may befound, from the dwarf Salix herbaceaandS. reticulatato the taller S. myrsinifolia,together with many representatives of theheather family. Bird species are notnumerous here, but do include manynorthern species which are rare in Britainsuch as Rough-legged Buzzard, GyrFalcon and a variety of game birds, whilstan appealing selection of woodpeckersbreed alongside Fieldfares in the woodlandand forest areas. On sunny days we will beable to enjoy the wide variety of butterfliesthat make the most of a short flying seasonto dance through the meadows and soak inthe sun from sheltered hollows. Numerousamongst them are members of that mostconfusing but elegant of families, thefritillaries. Close to our hotel, we will explore themixed woodland and encumbant bogs, andascend gently to Syningen, at about 915metres, and Storefjell, from which far-reaching views extend over many of ourweek's target destinations. On another daywe will walk through the pine woodlandwhich shelters the Twinflower (Linnaeaborealis), named after Linnaeus, whosefavourite flower this was. Here we will alsohope to see such bird species as Grey-headed Woodpecker and Siberian Jay,before the woods give way to open areasand we continue across streams filled withMarsh Cinquefoil, and down towards Gol toend the day. To the east of Kamben weascend on pleasing paths, through woodland and open moorland, to thesummit of Nystolsfjellet, which rises to over1,220 metres. The wide-ranging views fromthe top allow us to scan for soaring birds ofprey, or perhaps glimpse a Merlin dashingpast. Cloudberry is abundant in the damperareas, and we should see a range ofAlchemillas, and may even find the tiny BogOrchid and Lesser Twayblade. To the north,beyond Tisleifjord, lies the province ofOppland, an attractive area of lakes setamongst rounded hills. Here we will searchfor Elk, Ptarmigan, Capercaillie, and bothWillow and Black Grouse, and also stop enroute to view one of Norway's famouselaborate wooden churches. Also inOppland is the mountain of Skogshorn(1,615 metres). This is well worth climbingon a clear day (from a start at 820 metres,not sea level!), being the highest peak inthe region and therefore offering splendidviews over the surrounding mountains andlakes, as well as a fabulous mountain flora. Perhaps the most spectacular day of all,however (provided the weather isreasonable), will be our expedition to thefamous Flam railway. This uses a range oftransport - bus, mountain railway andfjordland boat - to travel through veryvaried mountain and fjordland scenery,including a visit to the spectacular waterfallat Flam, as well as Aurlandsfjord andSognefjord. A remarkable day in which tocombine both montane and coastal plantsand birds (including such seabirds as gulls,terns and auks!). 101Outline itineraryDay 1 Fly Oslo and transfer toKamben.Day 2/7A daily programme ofbotanical and naturalhistory walks from ourbase in Kamben.Day 8Fly London.AccommodationA friendly family-run hotel in Kamben,with private facilities.FoodAll included in the price.GradingDay walks only. Grade B.FocusPlants, birds and butterflies.LeaderPaul Harmes.Single room supplement£130.Web quick search: NOR02NORWAYSWEDENBERGENSKOGSHORNTRONDHEIMKAMBENGOLOSLOSOGNEFJORDBook direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationNorway - Alpine Flowers of the Gol PlateauAn 8-day holiday of botanical and natural history walks amongst the Arctic-alpine flora of southern Norway.Saturday 7th July - Saturday 14th July Cost: £1,295Snow GentianOset, BuskerudBuskerud province from Skogshorn